Ribbon-reverse for type-writing machines.



Y O. THIEME. RIBBON REVERSE EoE TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1910.

Patented June27, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 O. THIEME.

RIBBON REVERSE FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

\ APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1910.

'. 996,1 64, E Patented Jun 27, 1911.

3 HEETSSHEBT 2.

0. THIEME.

RIBBON REVERSE FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES. I

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patnted June 27,1911.

outrun sra'rns PATENT orrron.

OTTO TFZIEME, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, .ASSIGNOR TO MOON-HOPKINS BILLING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A. CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

RIBBON-REVERSE FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

Application filed September 23, 1910. Serial No. 583,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'r'ro THIEME, a citizen of the United States, residing at St.

Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ribbon-Reverses for Type-WVriting Machines of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of so much of a typewriting machineasis necessary to illustrate myimproved device. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating the means whereby my device is operated. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate details of construction.

My invention relates to an improvement in a mechanism for reversing the ribbon on an ordinarytypewriter machine.

' The object of my invention is to provide means for automatically positioning the operating mechanism of the ribbon winding reels or s 001s on either side of the machine, so that when the ribbon has been entirely unwound from one reel it will be automatically reversed or rewound on the opposite reel during the operation of the ordinary keys of the machine.

In my improved machine the reel operating means is operated intermittently and automatically through the action upon any key lever of the machine for printing.

In the drawings, 1 indicates generally the frame of the machine and 2 the upper portion of the frame forming a deck. On either side of the deck are suitably attached brackets 3 and 4. In these brackets are mounted slidable rods 5 and 6, one of which is suitably connected to a key lever on the frame. Upon these rods are fixed bars 7 and 8, having attached at their upper'ends the usual sheet metal ribbon guard 9 extending across the top of the machine. On each bar 7 and 8 just below the guard 9 are mounted guide pins 10 and 11 over which the ribbon 12 of the machine is passed.

Attached to the frame or deck 2 are suitable resilient strips 13 and 14 extending below the ribbon to prevent its contacting with the frame of the machin The ribbon 12 passes from the reel or sp 01 15 on one side of the machine to the reel or spool 16 on the opposite side of the machine.

On the'rod 5 opposite the bar 7 is a coopcrating bar 17 which extends upward to support the guard 9 on the opposite side of the ribbon. This bar 17 has an extension 18 engaging aslot 19 around the projecting hub 20 of the reel 15. A similar construction is used in connection with the reel 16. Each reel is keyed on a spindle 21 to rotate therewith, and. be slidable longitudinally thereof.

The ribbon 12 is composed of two parts 22 and 23 forblack and red ink and by moving the rod 5 laterally the reel 15 and guard 9 together with the ribbon may be shifted so that the black or red inked portion of the ribbon as desired ispositioned under the printing mechanism.

At the back of the machine is suitably supported a shaft 24 extending between thetwo reels 15 and 16. This shaft has loosely mounted at either end beveled gears 25 and 26 intermeshing with beveled gears 27 and 28 fixedly mounted on the spindles 21, respectively.

Projecting from the gears 25 and 26 are clutch devices 29 and 30 having preferably ratchet teeth 31 and 32 at-the outer extremity thereof. Adapted to cotiperate with the clutch devices 29 and 30 are corresponding toothed clutch members 33 and .34. These members 33 and 34 are keyed to the shaft 24 in order to be moved longitudinally thereof, and yet be rotated therewith. I prefer to attach spring strips 34' to stationary parts to project over and engage the slidable clutch members 33 and 34 respectively in order to prevent the clutches from being dis engaged through vibration of the machine.

Each member 33 and 34 is grooved as at 35 and 36 for the entrance of pins 37 and 38, which pins ,are mounted respectively on levers 39 and 40, pivoted at 41 and 42 on fixed parts of the frame. These le'vers are connected through a link 43.

The lever 39 is notched at its upper extremity at 44 to receive a toothed pawl 45 pivoted at 46 on the bracket 3 having a spring 47 attached to hold the pawl nor mally in the notch. This lever at its upper end is also slotted at 48 for the reception of a pin 49. The pin 49 projects from cill'ate in a groove in a pin 53 fastened in" which lever has a portion 52 shaped to osthe frame ot' t he nnichine. The groove in the pin extends within the bearing in the frame as shown in Fig. 3,:ind also extends to the projecting-end thereo't over which a,

cap or sleeve 5 l is titted. The portion 52 of the lever 51 extends within the groove to' be engaged and held in place by the frame at. one end and the cap 41 at: the other. The l'eyer 10 has a similar slot 48 for a pin 'it) attached 'to a lever similar to 51 pivoted on pin fastin the frame of the machine. vPlvoted to the lower ends of bars 7. and

8 are levers 55 and5t5 notched at their lower ends to engagethe portionot) of the lever 51 and the corresponding lever on the other side of the 'naehinc'. These levers 55 and. 56 have I lateral "extensions, respectively; 57 and 58.

Each reel or spool l5 and 16 is notched at [miter the reception of a curved lever (30 pivoted Within the notch at (it. The end. of this lever 60 has projecting portions (32 en'- gaging curved slots (33 in the flanges ti t of the'spoo]. The lever (30 is curved to lie whollyw ithin the. notch 59 and avoid interference witlrthe winding of the ribbon on the reel or spool, and the-slots (33 are curved with the pivot .61 as a center. 7 a 7 Fast to the ends 62 ot'the lever tithlh' a strip of cloth or other material (iii which is suitably attached to the ends of therib- Y I bon 12. The 1.'ojecting ends i2 extend. o'utwardly beyond the flanges 01. the spools or reels 15 and 16 to engage the n'ojee tio11s '57 and. 58' of the levers and fittwhen,

moved upward in the slots 63.

Fastene l on the shaft Zt-is a ratchet wheel 66 which is acted upon by a ratchetpawl 67 pivoted to a lever (38 mounted on the shaft-24. A spring 69 is attached to the pawl 67 in order to hold it 'in engagement with the ratchet wheel (in. A stop pawl -67 is fastened to a stationary part and prevents backward-movement of the ratchet wheel.

The lever 68; and thereby the pawl 67. is operated through a link 70 connected with a lever 71 pivoted on shaft "72 extending across the machine. Rods 73 are connected to shaft 72 through levers 73 at each end of the shaft, and extend downward to support-a cross bar 74 passing ui'nlerneath all the key levers 75 of the machine which are suitably pivoted to the frame at T6 and held in an upperposition by springs 77 attached to a fixed partofthe machine 78.

When the ribbon has been fully unwound from one of the reels the projecting pin 62 will be moved to the end of the slot 63, the position shown in Fig. 5. and thereby engage one of the arms 5T'or 58 which through corresponding lever 39' or 40 will shift corresponding clutcl es33 n' 34 to connect the clutchinenibers whichoperate upon the reel which has been depleted and disconnect the clutch of the other. reel. By

this means the rotation of the shaft -24 will reverse the inovementof the ribbon, and it \Vlll be wound on the empty reel and unwound from the full reel.

The operating means for the clutchesthrough the shaft Qet is the ratchet wheel 66 which connectedato be intermittently operated. every time a key is pressed downward. By thisv means the ribbon is continuti'on the scope of which is indicated by the accompanying claims. 7

lclaimz" .1. in a device ofthc character described, a ribbon reversing and rewi'nding mecha nisin comprising a. ribbon reel mounted on each side o'rf'the machine, a shattextendingantermethate said reels, means on the shatt tor' rotating each reel,, clutches slidablyr mounted on the shalt torengagmg and dis engaging each rotating i'ueans, means tor. shitting each clutch and means connectlng said shitting means so that-the clutches may be operated siuiultaneously. 1

In a device of the characterdescribed, a, ribbon reversing and 'rewinding' mecha nism eon'iprising a ribbon reel mountcdon either side of the-machine, a shaft extending .internnaliate said reelsgintains on the shaft for rotating each reel, clutches slidably mounted on the shaft for engaging-and disengaglng ,each. .r ta'trng means,.means "for shitting each clutch, a bar connecting said shitting means, and meansgtor retaining said :lut ':hes .iueither of two positions.

31 in =11 device-of the character described, a ribbon reversing and rewinding. mechanism, comprising a ribbon reel mountedv on either side of the machine, a shaft extending intern mliate said reels.- means on the shaft for rotating each reel, clutches slidably mounted on the shaft andengaging and dis- 3 engaging each rot'atii'ig means and means tor shitting eachv clutch, said means comprising a notched lever and a pawl cooperating.

with the notched lever to hold the same in either of two positions.

4. In a device of the character described,

a ribbon reversing and rewinding mecha-.

nism. comprising a ribbon reel mounted oneither side of the machine, a shaft extending i clutch thereof.

intermediate said reels, means on the shaft for rotating each reel, clutches slidably mounted on the shaft for operatively engaging and disengaging each rotating means 'with the shaft, means for shifting each clutch, and friction means engaging each to prevent accidental movement 5. In a device of the character described, aframe having a deck, ribbon guiding means mounted on either end of said deck, brackets attached to either end of the deck, ribbon reels rotatably mounted. in each bracket,imeans attached to the deck to prevent the ribbon from contacting with the deck, and means mounted above the guiding means to protect the ribbon.

6. Ina device of the character described, in combination, a frame having a deck, ribbon guiding means mounted on either end of said deck, brackets attached to either end ribbon reels rotatably mounted either side of .the machine, mechanism for sa1d reels,

of the deck beneath the uiding means,

a in each bracket, metallic strips attached to the deck adjacent the guiding means to prevent the- ;fribbon' contacting with the deck, and an additional strip mounted above theguiding means to protect the ribbon.

7. 'In a device of the character described,

' a ribbon reversing and rewinding mechanism, comprising a ribbon reel mounted on an operating means for connecting one reel to said operating mechanism and disconnecting the other, comprising a device pivoted to one reel and having a portion mounted in a curved groove in a flange of 'the reel and projecting therefrom, and a lever adapted to'be actuated by said projection. a I

Ina device of the character described, a ribbon reversing and rewinding mechanislii, comprising a ribbon reel mounted on either side of the' machine, mechanism for said reels, means for connecting a reel to said operating mechanism,

m'eans for operating said latter means, compris ng a lever plvoted to the frame, and engaging a portion of said operating means, a

second lever engaging the former lever, and means attached to the end of the ribbon for engaginggand operating said second lever.

' either side of the machine,

9. In adevice of the character described, a ribbon reversing and rewinding mechanism, comprising a ribbon reel mounted on an operating mechanism for said reels, means for connecting one reel to 'saidoperating mechanism,

; and means for actuating said latter means comprising a pivoted member normally situated entirely within a groove in the hub of the, reel, and attached to the end ofthe ribbon.

10. In a device of the character described, a frame. having brackets attached at either an operating" for rotating the reels, clutches adjacent said rotating means at either end of the shaft, and means for operating said clutches to connect and disconnecteach reel with its operating means.

11. In a device of the character described, a ribbon reversing and rewinding mechanism comprising a ribbon reel mounted on either side of the machine, mechanism for each reel, means for connecting one reel to its operating mechanism and disconnecting the other, and vice versa, comprising two devices, one pivoted to each reel and having a portion mounted to move in a curved groove in the reel flange and projecting therefrom, and levers at either side of the machine adapted to be actuated by the projections of each pivoted device.

12. In a device of the character described, a ribbon reversin and rewinding mechanism, comprising a ribbon reel mounted on either side of the machine, a shaft extending intermediate said reels, means on each end of the shaft for operating the adjacent reel, a clutch slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent each operating means, said clutches be ing adapted to rotate with the shaft, common means for shifting said clutches to throw one into engagement with the adjacent operating means and the other out of engagement, and vice versa.

13. In a device of the character described, a ribbon reversing and rewinding mechanism, comprising a ribbon reel mounted on either side of the machine, a shaft extending intermediate said reels, means on each end of the shaft for operating the adjacent reel, a clutch slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent each operatingmeans, said clutches be- .ing adapted to rotate with the shaft, common means for shifting said clutches to throw one into engagement with the adjacent operating means and the other out of engagement, and vice versa, and means for rotating said shaft intermittently, comprising a bar extending beneath a series of keybars of the machine.

14. In a device of the character described, a ribbon reversing and rewinding mechanism, comprising a ribbon reel mounted on either side of the machine, a shaft es; tending intermediate said reels, means on each end of the shaft for operating the adjacent reel, a clutch slidably mounted on the shaft adj acent each operating means, said clutches bean operating 1 ing; adapted to rotate with the shaft, comnion means for shifting said clutches to throw one into engagement with the adjacent operating means and the other out of engagement, and vice versa, means for rotating the shaft, comprising a ratchet Wheel mounted on the shaft, :1 paw] for operating said ratchet, key-bars, a transverse bar 0xtunding beneath the koy-barghnd means i1itcrmediatc said bar and said pawl to operate the latter il'ltermittently upon actuation of the key-bars.

this 12th day of Septembef, 1910.

Witnesses:

J. W. Cum, M. P 18511111 OTTQ THIEME. 

